EILEEN DOYLE CRANE, J.D.
UNIVERSITY PRELAW ADVISOR
LC 402; MS 101
UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY
800 WEST UNIVERSITY PARKWAY
OREM, UT 84058-5999
801-863-6484
EILEEN.CRANE@UVU.EDU
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, COLUMBIA
RESEARCHING LAW SCHOOLS
Use this form and the RSL Spreadsheet to compile answers to compare and contract law schools.
LSW= School Website (Not all law school information is on website); PH= Phone call to law school; LSAC = Law School
Admissions Council; website has links to all ABA-approved law schools at: www.lsac.org
Faculty and Students
1)
Count number of faculty who graduated from the law school in which they are teaching. 8
(Generally in academics, this is considered a weakness) (LSW)
2)
Count the number of faculty who served as clerks to US Supreme Court justices (2) or US Circuit Court of Appeals (7).
(LSW)
3)
What percentage of the faculty and students are: a) women and b) minority?
(LSW/LSAC) faculty a) 24%, b) 12%; students a) 34%, b) 11%
Performance and Services
4)
Find out the first-time bar passage rate of graduates. Feb. 100%, July 94.06% What percentage of students takes the instate bar? 77% How many take the bar in the state you want to practice in? N/A (LSAC)
5)
How many judicial clerkships are awarded to graduates annually? (LSAC) 11
6)
How many student-edited journals does the law school have? (LSW) 3
7)
How many clinics in which students represents clients exist in the law school? (LSW) 8
8)
Does law school has a pro bono requirement for graduation? If so, how many hours? (LSW) It’s a voluntary program;
however, if the number of hours are completed (1st years= 10 hours, 2/3 years= 20 hours) you get a certificate of
recognition.
Placement and Opportunities
9)
What is placement percentage nine months after graduation? LSW/LSAC) In 2012= 94.4%
10)
How many firms interview on campus, not just register. (PH) they interview F/S and the average is about 50
11)
How many states/foreign countries do graduates work in? (LSAC) 2010-2012= all 50 states & 21 foreign countries
12)
Do you have strong regional interests? If so, how many firms interview on campus from the region in which you want to
live? If none, how many law school graduates work in your preferred area? It depends on what the firm wants; they
come from all over the states. (LSW/PH)
13)
How many people are in the class 291 (LSW/LSAC) and how deep in the class do most firms interview (5%, 10%, or
15%)? (PH)
14)
How many people work in the Career Services Office? (PH) 5
Finances
15)
What is the average debt load for the law school graduates? (LSW/PH) $65,000
16)
What is the median salary for the law school graduates? (LSW/LSAC) $60,000
17)
What kind of financial aid package is the school offering (loans only, grants/loans, scholarships)? Loans, scholarships,
work-study
18)
If you are being offered a scholarship, what are the terms? First years just need to complete the admissions process; 2 &
3 years need to keep up their grades. Is it unconditional or renewable, based on certain grades or performance? Based
on grades & performance. If renewable, what is the forced grade curve and what percentage of students maintain their
scholarship in the 2L and 3L years? (PH) 69% maintain scholarships
Alumni
21)
How many state/foreign countries does the law school have alumni in? all 50 states & 21 foreign countries How
extensively is the alumni association organized and how active is the chapters? They are active and organized; they have
an alumni magazine and directory available, they recognize donors, have various events throughout the year, and they
have 4 people working the in the Law of Advancement office. (LSW/PH) (This will help you determine how much the
school/alumni can help you get a job throughout your career, not just at graduation.)
10/3/12